Convertible-stage centrifugal pump



. 1,635,655 1927' DE WlTT E. (YATES CONVERTIBLE STAGE CENTRIFUGAL PUMP Filed May 21. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 l 635 655 July 12, 1927. DE wlTT E. YATES CONVERTIBLE STAGE CENTRIFUGAL PUMP Filed May 21, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 g-rwwntoz @NUFZ m;

- 1927' DE WlTT E. YATES CONVERTIBLE STAGE CENTRIFUGAL PUMP Filed May 21, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 gwventoz -/%-f E attozwa S Jul' 1 192 y 7 1 DE WlTT E. YATES UONVERTIBLE STAGE CENTRIFUGAL PUMP Filed May 21, 1926 4' Sheets-Sheet 4 I g ua'nto paw 3T 0155/ Patented July 12, 1927.

UNITED STATES v 1,635,655 PATENT OFFICE.

DE WITT' E. YATES, OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO AMERIOAN STEAM PUMP COMPANY, OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

CONVERTIBLE-STAGE CELTTRIFUGAL PUMP.

Application filed May 21,

This invention is a convertible stage'centrifugal pump which can be .operated either as a single stage pump when quantity and low pressure is desired, or as a two-stage pump when high pressure is desired, the pump being readily convertible from one to the other by adjustment of a single valve. When used as a two stage pump the volume of liquid handled would be only half the volume that would be handled when operating as a single stage pump, but the pressure exerted upon the liquid will-be doubled as compared with the pressure exerted upon. the liquid when used as a single stage pump,

'15 assuming that the driving power and speed of rotation of the impeller remains the same in both instances. Y

. In the accompanyingv drawings I have illustrated one practical embodiment of the invention and will describe the same with reference thereto to enable others skilled in the art to adopt and use the same. In the claims following the description I have sum- 'marized the essential features of the invention, and the novel features of construction,

and novel combinations of parts for which protection is desired.

In said drawing: 1 Figure 1 is a central vertical section through the complete pump in the plane-of the main shaft, the parts being arranged for "two-stage operation.

Fig. 2 is a reduced vertical section through ihe volute and impeller on line 2 -2 of i 1.

Fig. 3 is a reduced vertical section on line 3- 3 of Fig. 1, the valve being set for a twostage operation.

, Fig. 4 is a similar section with the valve set for a single stage operation.

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are detail views of the adjustable valve member, detached. Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are enlarged detail views of the fixed valve member, detached.

As shown in the drawings, the pump casing comprises a central annular ody portion or casting 1, an inboard head 4 atone side of the body portion, and an outboard head 5 at the opposite side of the body portion. These inboard and outboard heads ma be securely attached to the ends of the b0 y portion 1 by bolts, as shown, or by any ot er suitable means.

Inthe pump shown, the body portion 1 is formed with two diametrically opposite v0- 1926. Serial No. 110,652.

lute chambers 1 and 1", (Fig. 2) which respectively communicate with the central chamber in which the impeller 2 rotates.

-The inboard head 4 is provided with a bearing 4- for the impeller shaft 3, and with a stuffing box and gland 4 i 1 The outboard head 5 is hollow; and its inner wall is provided with a central opening to accommodate the adjacent ends of an .axially disposed valve member 6 hereinafter referred to. The outer wall of head 5 is preferably formed. with a central opening to accommodate the outer end of valve 6, said .openin being closed byan end plate 10 bolted t ereto, said plate 10 having a bearing 10*, for theimpeller shaft 3 in line with bearing '4, and having a' stuffing box I and gland 10. Plate 10 preferably has an axial sleeve 1O projecting from its inner side and surrounding the shaft 3, said sleeve supporting the valve members 6 and 7 in position in the casing.

The outboard head 5 also has an inlet 5 communicating with a chamber A therein (see Figs. 1-3-4) through which water is supplied to the impeller-through the openings controlled by valve members 6 and 7.

The head 5-is also provided with a chamber B (Figs. 1-3-4) which communicates with the outlet end 1 of the volute 1", and can communicate with the impeller through an opening controlled by the valve members 6 and'7. The outboard member 5 also has a third chamber C. which communicates with the outlet 1 of the volute 1. The chamber C is separated from chamber A by a partition 5, and .from chamber B by a partition 5". Chamber 0 can be put into communication with the chamber B by properly adjusting the valve 6, as hereinafter described.

Within the. casing is an impeller 2 which is fixedly mounted upon'the rotatable main shaft 3, and is provided with a series of raposed conical portion 7 the smaller end of the cone being toward the sleeve 10", and its larger end toward the inboard head 4. This -valve member 7 is provided with two main openings or passages E and E which extend from the front (left hand) end of the member to the periphery thereof. The memher 7 is so disposed that the ends of passages E, E in the periphery of member 7 are respectively opposite the volutes 1 and 1", and communicate with the inner ends of the diametrically opposite passages 2" in the impeller. The valve member 7 is shown as provided with transverse partitions 7 which separate the passages E, E; and with intermediate webs 7 connecting the front and rear portions of the member at points intermediate the partitions 7 The valve member 6 (see Figs. 1, 5, 6 and 7) has an axial sleeve portion 6 by which it is rotatably mounted upon sleeve 10 concentric with the shaft 3. The inner end of the valve 6 is approximately cylindric and abuts against the outer end of the valve memher 7 (see Fig. 1). The inner end of valve 6 is provided with openings F, F which may be registered with the openings E, E in valve member 7. The valve 6 has web portion 6' at one side of the sleeve 6 and dia-' metrically opposite the web 6 has a bifurcated web 6. These webs project into the hollow head 5, and when the valve is adj usted to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3; these web portions prevent direct communication between chambers A and B. The space between the bifurcations of web 6 form a longitudinally disposed channel G in the side of the valve.

When the valve 6 is in the osition shown in Fig. 3, passage G is closed by a segmental portion 5 of the walls of chamber A, and chamber C, but when the valve is turned to the position shown in Fig. 4, passage G forms a by-pass between chamber B and chamber 0' around the inner end of the wall 5 between chambers B and C. v

The valve member 6 is further provided with a segmental peripheral web portion 6 at one'side of the chamber G, and when the valve is adjusted to the position shown in Fig. 4 this web portion (i prevents direct communication through the valve members between chamber B and the impeller. When the valve 6 is adjusted to the position shown in Fig. 3 this web portion 6 prevents direct communication between the chambers B and C, but permits communication through the valve members between chamber B and the impeller. The valve 6 may be adjusted in any suitable way. As shown in Fig. 1 it is provided on its outer end with a toothed segment 6 which meshes with a small pinion 8,011 a stub shaft 8, mounted in a bearing on plate 10 and is provided with an operating lever 8".

Operation.

When the valve 6 is adju:;ted to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, water can flow from chamber A through ports or passages E F in the valves into the lower side of the impeller, and will be discharged through volute 1 into the chamber B, and then pass through ports or passages F E into the upper side of the impeller, and then be discharged into volute 1? and delivered ,through outlet 1 as indicated by the arrows. The liquid thus has a two-stage course through the pump and the volume of liquid passing through the pump is reduced one-half of the full capacity of the impeller, but the pressure on the liquid is proportionately increased.

hen the valve is adjusted to the position shown in Fig. 4, the liquid will be admitted from chamber A through the ports or passages E, F, E, F in the valve members to the impeller and be dischar ed simultaneously into volutes 1 and 1", tie liquid passin directly from both chambers B-C to the discharge as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4. The volume of liquid discharged in this single stage operation of the pump is double that of the volume discharged when the pump is operated as a'two-stage pu1np,'but the pressure is correspondingly reduced.

The direction of flow and stream lines are illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and i by the arrows. The direction of rotation of the impeller is indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. The dotted line in Fig. 2 shows the absolute path of water through the entire pump when operatin as a two stage pump. The dot and dash line in Fig. 2 hows the absolute path of water when operating as a single stage pump.

From the description and drawing it will be seen that in my invention I use a single impeller with a circumferential series of dis-. charge passages and that when I wish to get a larger volume of liquid through, or operate as a single stage pump, the liquid is simultaneously admitted toall the passages anddischarged simultaneously and equally into the several volutes.

I am aware. that so-called multi-stage pumps have been heretofore made or patented provided with a plurality of impellers and means for cutting out one or more impellers for obtaining difierent pressure rat-, ings upon the liquid, but I believe my invention is essentially differentiated from these prior pumps, for such prior pumps do not change the several stages of the pump from series to parallel in'operation and con- Ill Pill

" used as a single stage pump has twice the volumetric capacity that it has when used as a two stage pump. 1

When I wish to increase the pressure and obtain the effect of a multi-stage pump, I

shift the valve so that the liquid is first 1ntroduced into the impeller at one point and discharged by the impeller into one volute, and then brought back from that volute to the impeller, at another point, and forced by the same impeller into the next volute, thereby, in the particular pump shown, delivering half the quantity of liquid but doubling. the pressure thereon. This novel principle of operation ofmy-pump enables me to obtain variable pressures and the effect of so-called multistage pumps in a very simple, but efficient manner.

Obviously the principle of the invention could be readily embodied in pumps in which more than two volutes are employed, by

suitably arranging the valve and passages. so that the "liquid may be discharged simultaneously from the impeller into the several volutes and thence to discharge thus giving full capacity with low pressure, or the pres sure can be stepped up by discharging from one portion of the impeller into one volute; returning the liquid from that volute back to another point inithe impeller, and discharging it thereby into another volute; and, if desired, again returning the water from this volute to still another portion of the im peller and thence discharging it, and so on. I do not consider the invention restricted to a two-stage pump, asa greater or less number of volutes may be used and the stages varied according to the number of volutes provided forthe impeller.

Obviously the invention is not restricted pump shown in the drawing, as various mec anical changes may be made therein, and the mechanical form thereof varied, while retaining the essential features of the invention.

1. A centrifugal pump having a casing, a single impeller, and valve means whereby liquid may be directed to the said impeller so that the pump may. be operated either single stage-or multi-stage.

2. A'centrifugal pump havinga casing,

a single impeller, liquid inlet and liquid outlet passages, and axially located valve means whereby liquid may be directed to the said impeller; so that the pump may be opf erated either single stage or multi-stage.

3. In a centrifugal pump having a casing, a single impeller a plurality of volutes, a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, and axially located valve means whereby liquid may be directed simultaneously through the said impeller to the volutes when operated as' a discharge, when it is desired to have a single stage pump; or whereby liquid maybe admitted at one point to the impeller and dischargedtherefrom and then directed back at another point into. the same impeller and discharged therefrom, when it is desired to 'have amulti-stage pump.

5. In a centrifugal pump, casing having a plurality of volutes, an impeller chamber,

an inlet, an outlet, an impeller, and axially located valve means whereby liquid may be passed directly from the inlet through the impeller to the several volutes, and thence to the discharge; when it is desired to havethe pump act as a single stage pump; or whereby the liquid may be admitted at one point to the impeller, and discharged into one volute; then directed back fromsaid volutes into another point of the impeller to an other volute, when it is desired to have'the pump act as a multi-stage pump.

6. In a centrifugal pump, a casing having ,a plurality of volutes, an impeller chamber,

.inlet passages and outlet passages, and valve 1 0- means disposed axially in line with the impeller whereby liquid may be simultaneously admitted through the impeller to the several volutes, and thence to the discharge, when it is desired to have the pump act as a single stage pump; or whereby the liquid may be admitted at one point to the impeller, and discharged into one volute, then directed back 'to the impeller at another point, and disoha rged into. another volute, when it is desired to have the pump act as a .m1'1lti-stage pump. I

7. A centrifugal pump comprising a casing having a plurality of peripheral volutes, a plurality of water chambers respectively communicating with the volutes, and an inlet chamber; animpeller adapted to dischargefluid into the volutes; and valve the pump is used single stage or multi-stage.

9. In a pump, as set forth in claim 7; the valve means comprising an inner member having a plurality of passages corresponding with the plurality of volutes, and an adjustable valve member communicating with the inlet Chamber and having openings or passages ada ted to communicate with the passages in tie inner member, and having a bypass whereby communication may be established or cut off between adjacent chambers, according to whether the pump is to be used single stage or multi-stage.

10. A centrifu al pump comprising a casing having a plurality of peripheral volutes, a plurality of water chambers respectively communicating with the volutes, and an inlet chamber; an impeller having a plurality of radial passages adapted to discharge fluid into the volutes; and valve means disposed axially to the impeller, whereby liquid may be directed simultaneously through the impeller to the volutes when operated as a single stage pump, or liquid may be directed from the impeller to one volute,'and then back through the impeller to another volute when operated as a multi-stage pump.

11. In a pump as set forth in claim 10, the valve means comprising an inner memher having a plurality of passages corresponding with the plurality of volutes, and an adjustable valve member communicating with the inlet chamber and having openings or passages adapted to communicate with the passages in the inner member, and having a bypass whereby communication may be established or out off between adjacent water chambers, according to whether the pump is used single stage or multi-stage.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my OWI1,1 afiix my signature.

DE WITT E. YATES. 

